Remote control

Abstract

Disclosed is a remote control unit having a button to selectively disable and enable the physical buttons of the remote control. The remote control unit, which may be able to remotely control an electronic device, may include: a plurality of physical buttons able to receive manual input from a user; and an activator/deactivator physical button able to toggle the remote control unit between a first operational mode and a second operational mode, wherein in the first operational mode the physical buttons are enabled and pressing of the physical buttons affects the operation of the electronic device, and wherein in the second operational mode the physical buttons are disabled and pressing of the physical buttons does not affect the operation of the electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A remote control unit able to remotely control an electronic device,
 the remote control unit comprising:   a plurality of physical buttons able to receive manual input from a user; and   an activator/deactivator physical button able to toggle the remote control unit between a first operational mode and a second operational mode, wherein in the first operational mode the physical buttons are enabled and pressing of the physical buttons affects the operation of the electronic device, and wherein in the second operational mode the physical buttons are disabled and pressing of the physical buttons does not affect the operation of the electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an internal power source able to provide power to one or more components of the remote control unit;   wherein in the first operational mode, the internal power source provides power to said one or more components of the remote control unit;   wherein in the second operational mode, the internal power source does not provide power to said one or more components of the remote control unit.   
     
     
         3 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an internal power source able to provide power to one or more components of the remote control unit;   wherein in the first operational mode, the internal power source is electrically connected to said one or more components of the remote control unit;   wherein in the second operational mode, the internal power source is electrically disconnected from said one or more components of the remote control unit.   
     
     
         4 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wireless transmitter able to transmit wireless communication signals to the electronic device;   wherein upon a first pressing of the activator/deactivator physical button, the remote control unit is to transmit to the electronic device a first wireless communication signal commanding the electronic device to ignore subsequent wireless communication signals from the remote control unit until a second, particular, wireless communication signal is sent from the remote control unit commanding the electronic device to be responsive to subsequent wireless communication signals from the remote control unit.   
     
     
         5 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an internal power source able to provide power to one or more components of the remote control unit;   an illumination unit able to provide backlit illumination;   wherein in the first operational mode, the illumination unit is operational and provides backlit illumination in response to pressing of one or more of the physical buttons;   wherein in the second operational mode, the illumination unit is non-operational and does not provide backlit illumination in response to pressing of one or more of the physical buttons.   
     
     
         6 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the physical buttons, upon being pressed down, is to decrease its position by at least two millimeters below a non-pressed position;
 wherein, when the activator/deactivator physical button indicates the second operational mode, in which the physical buttons are disabled, the electronic device associated with the remote control unit is not operationally responsive to pressing down of one or more of said physical buttons.   
     
     
         7 . The remote control unit of  claim 5 , wherein each one of said physical buttons, upon being released subsequent to being pressed down, is to increase its position by at least two millimeters towards a top surface of the remote control unit and to attain said non-pressed position;
 wherein, when the physical activator/deactivator button indicates the second operational mode, in which the physical buttons are disabled, the electronic device controlled by said remote control is not operationally responsive to releasing of one or more of said physical buttons.   
     
     
         8 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the activator/deactivator physical button comprises a mechanical switch able to be toggled from being at a first physical state to being at a second physical state;
 wherein, when the mechanical switch is in the first physical state, the physical buttons are enabled and the electronic device controlled by said remote control unit is enabled;   wherein, when the mechanical switch is in the second physical state, the physical buttons are disabled and the electronic device controlled by said remote control unit is enabled.   
     
     
         9 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the activator/deactivator physical button comprises a mechanical slider able to be slid from being at a first physical position to being at a second physical position;
 wherein, when the mechanical slider is in the first physical state, the physical buttons are enabled and the electronic device controlled by said remote control unit is enabled;   wherein, when the mechanical slider is in the second physical state, the physical buttons are disabled and the electronic device controlled by said remote control unit is enabled.   
     
     
         10 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the activator/deactivator physical button comprises a physically-pressable button able to be pressed;
 wherein, in response to being pressed, the physically-pressable button is to decrease its position by at least one millimeter relative to a non-pressed position of said physically-pressable button;   wherein, re response to being released subsequent to being pressed, the physically-pressable button is to increase its position and return to said non-pressed position;   wherein, in response to being pressed, the physically-pressable button causes a toggle between: (a) the first operational mode, in which the physical buttons are enabled and the electronic device controlled by said remote control unit is responsive to pressing of one or more of the physical buttons, and (b) the second operational mode, in which the physical buttons are disabled and the electronic device controlled by said remote control unit is non-responsive to pressing of one or more of the physical buttons.   
     
     
         11 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wireless transmitter able to transmit wireless communication signals to the electronic device;   wherein in the first operational mode, the wireless transmitter is enabled;   wherein in the second operational mode, the wireless transmitter is disabled.   
     
     
         12 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the activator/deactivator physical button comprises a dedicated button that is distinct from a group of physically-pressable keys comprising alpha-numeric characters. 
     
     
         13 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the physical buttons are located on a first panel of the remote control unit; wherein the activator/deactivator physical button is located on a second panel of the remote control unit; wherein the second panel is generally perpendicular to the first panel. 
     
     
         14 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the activator/deactivator physical button is a non-child-friendly button. 
     
     
         15 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the activator/deactivator physical button is to toggle the remote control unit between the first operational mode and the second operational mode while the remote control unit is directed away from the electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The remote control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the activator/deactivator physical button is to toggle the remote control unit between the first operational mode and the second operational mode while the electronic device is temporarily unable to receive wireless communication signals from the remote control unit.